Flashlight



Sept. 3 1940;

o, T. WOOD FLASHLIGHT Filed May i7' 1938 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR 4 0W/L5 7* WOOD v FIG. 2-

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1940 STATES PATENT OFFICE Manufacturing Corporation,

Clinton, Mass., a

corporation of Massachusetts v Application May 17, 1938, Serial No. 208,343

4 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlights and more particularly to lamp socket supports therefor.

The invention has to do primarily with a flashlight which can be cheaply manufactured of sheet metal by simple forming operations.

One object of the present invention is to sirnplify and facilitate the construction and manufacture of a support for the lamp socket.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and facilitate the construction and assembly of the component elements going to make up a practical lamp socket support whereby the lamp may be located with respect to the reflector in a flashlight.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate the assembly of a lamp socket support in a flashlight.

Yet another object of the invention is to simplify and improve those parts of the electrical circuit in a ashlight Within which the lamp socket support and lamp are comprised.

The invention also seeks a ashlight and as'- sociated parts which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and simplicity and convenience in assembly and use.

In carrying the invention into eiect, in its preferred embodiment, there is provided a lamp socket supporting bridge member which may, if desired, be formed from sheet metal ormay be "cast in channel'shape, at least in part, for

strength. The extremities of the bridge member extend upwardly and terminate, conveniently, in rectangularly offset transversely curved portions adapted to be received within a groove of corresponding formation formed in the wall of the flashlight. To facilitate assembly, the bridge member is formed centrally with an aperture to the rim of which a lamp socket is clamped with `suitable provision for insulation therebetween and the lamp socket support also preferably carries, below the bridge member, a conductive contact member desirably extending toward the wall of the flashlight for engagement with a sliding contact member of the circuit closer whereby the circuit may be completed from, say, the zinc cup terminal of the battery to the shell terminal of .the lamp thereby permitting the central terminal of the lamp to be exposed beneath the bridge member for contact withthe central terminal of the battery.

If desired, the central terminal of the 'lamp may be brought into electrical connection with the central terminal of the battery through the instrumentality of a fixed contact on the bridge f member in conductive relation with a yielding (Cl. #E40-10.6)

or shock absorbing contact for the central terminal of the lamp.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be lrealized and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View, taken on the diameter and showing the upper end of a iiashlight of this invention;

Figure 2 is aview similar to Figure 1 but taken in a plane at right angles thereto;

f Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed plan view, taken in the transverse plane indicated by the 15 line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 but showing a modied lamp socket support providing a shock absorbing contact between the central lamp y20 terminal and the central battery terminal.

' While the invention has been illustrated as applied to a cylindrical flashlight casing, it will be obvious, as the description proceeds, that it is equally applicable, in many respects, to any flashlight or hand lantern of any form or description.

As illustrated, the flashlight casing 5 is shown as of metal in cylindrical form and containing the battery l. It is outwardly flared, as at 9, at its uppen end on al continuous compound curve whereby a smooth surface contour of progressively increasingv diameter is obtained. The upper open end of the flashlight is formed with threads Il conveniently pressed therein for the reception of any desired lens ring which may, if desired, support the reector and lens in a hood (not shown) whereby these assembled parts may be reciprocated thereon as a unit to bring the focus of the reflector in suitable and desired relationship with the filament of the lamp I2, I4.'

Inwardly of the threaded upper open end of the flashlight, the casing is shown as formed with a groove l5 conveniently rolled therein to dene a peripheral bead, outwardly thereof which may 5 serve as 'a limiting stop for the flashlight hood. Preferably the groove I5 is of substantially rectangular cross-section. In this groove l5 is in,- serted and conveniently secured the lamp socket support of this invention.

As illustrated, the lamp socket support is a bridge member comprising an elongated flat striplike mid-portion Il the ends of which extend upwardly and outwardly as at I8 and then upwardly as at I9` whereby the longitudinal ele- :5:5

ments of the part I9 are perpendicular to the plane of the intermediate portion I1 of the bridge. Conveniently, the upwardly extending portions I8 and I9 are curved on a radius somewhat less than the radius of the iiashlight casing in this plane to facilitate insertion of the bridge in the flashlight and the extremities of the two ends are then offset by laterally extending portions 20 and then upwardly extending portions 2l, the upwardly extending portions 2I being of a size and shape to be conveniently received within the peripheral groove I aforesaid.

If desired, these diametrically opposed offset.

ends 2| of the lamp socket supporting bridge niember may be secured in the groove I5, in proper position, by rivets, eyelets or the like 23. The edges of the central plane portion I1 of the bridge member are conveniently formed with upwardly extending flanges 25 so that this intermediate portion of the bridge member is channeled shaped for strength.

On the axis of the iashlight, the bridge member is depressed as at 26 and the depressed portion 2S is apertured with an aperture 21 of a diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the base I4 of the standard miniature lamp I2, I4. A lamp socket 23V is secured in this aperture 21. As shown, the lamp socket 29 is formed with a reversely bent portion 3l defining a bead which limits downward movement thereof and conveniently rests upon a metallic washer 32 insulated from the conductive bridge member portion I1 by a washer 34 of insulatory material which rests directly upon the bridge member in register with the aperture therein and supports the lamp socket. The lower end of the lamp socket passes through the aperture in this metallic washer 32 and insulatorv washer 3e and` the aperture 21 in the bridge member and is turned outwardly as a fiange 33. interposed between this flange 36 and the bridge member portion 26 is a metallic conductive member 31 through the aperture 38 of which the lower end of the lamp socket passes. The lower insulatory washer 33 is disposed between the conductive member 31 and the conductive lamp socket supporting bridge so that the assembled parts are clamped between the bead 3| on the lamp socket and the flange 35 on the end thereof but the lamp socket 29 and the conductive strip 31 are insulated by the insulating Washers 33 and 3d from the metallic bridge memberI1. To this end, as will be obvious, the aperture 21 in the bridge member is of a diameter greater than the diameter of the apertures in the washers 33 and 34 and conductive member 31 so that the lamp socket 29 is maintained out of electrical connection with the bridge member I1 and no short circuit can take place between the conductive casing of the flashlight and the shell terminal of the lamp.

The conductive strip is a generally elongated member apertured near one end for the reception of the end of the lamp socket and extending toward the wall of the flashlight casing. The extremity of this conductive strip is conveniently outwardly and upwardly bent as at 39 for engagement by a reciprocating contact strip 4I the end of which is conveniently offset as by first bending toward the casing wall, as at 40, and then longitudinally, as at 42, and again angularly preferably to bear upon the casing wall, as at 44. In any event, the end of the strip 4I is of a form such that when in the closed circuit position it is driven between the outwardly extending lamp screw shell contact 39 and the flashlightcasing so that movement of the battery will not push g the sliding strip out of contact with the extended lamp contact in any circumstances. Since the material of these bent ends 39 and 42 have some inherent resiliency, a wiping contact is obtained assuring a good clean electrical connection. The reciprocating conducting strip 4I is conveniently actuated' from a thumb piece 43 slidable on the outer surface of the casing. The thumb piece 43 is formed with spaced tongues 45 which pass through longitudinal slots 41 in the flashlight casing 5 and through cut-out portions 49 of the reciprocating contact strip 4I 4and all bent underneath the strip 4I so that as t'he thumb piece is reciprocated, the contact strip is moved therewith. Conveniently, the lower end of the contact strip 4I is formed with an aperture 50 adapted to receive, in kcircuit open position, a lug 5I formed by an inwardly pressed portion of the casing to lock the conductive strip 4I in circuit open position.

The lamp socket support of Figure 4 diifers from that hereinbefore discussed only in the provision of a fixed contact for the battery terminal in conductive relation with a shock absorbing contact for the lamp terminal. In this modificatidn, the various component parts which are similar in shape or function to corresponding parts in Figures l, 2 and 3 are given like reference characters. In this modification, a fixed battery positioning contact member is conveniently formed as a strip or ribbon of relatively stiff conductive material. The central contact portion 52 of this positioning contact is secured, as by the offset ends 53 thereof, by rivets or eyelets 54 passing through suitable oversized apertures in the apertured bridge member part 25. The eyelets 54 are thus out of contact with the rims of the apertures and are insulated from the bridge member by insulatory washers 55 and a strip 56 of insulating material, apertured as at 51, to expose the central lamp terminal I3. A yielding contact finger 58 is secured by one of the rivets 54 in conductive relation with an offset end 53 thereabove but insulated by strip- 56 from thel bridge part 26, so that the free end of the finger 58 is in position to be engaged by t'he lamp terminal I3. Thus current flows between the central terminal of the battery to the conductive stop member 52 and from thence through the conductive yielding finger 58 to the lamp terminal I3.

The operation of the flashlight of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. Suffice it to say that the circuit from the central terminal of the lamp is from the central terminal I3 to the battery 1, through the battery to the zinc cup electrode thereof and to the metallic conductive wall of the ashlight, as through a common type of battery positioning spring not shown. The zinc cup electrode of the battery carries the usual tubular fiber casing whereby it is insulated from the conductive wall 5 of the flashlight' except at the bottom of the battery, which as usual, is in contact with a battery positioning element in electrical connection with the battery casing. The metallic flashlight casing 5 then forms part of the elec- "tri'cal circuit, which is continued through the reciprocating strip- 4I to the end 39 of the conductive member 31 which carries the current to the lamp socket 23 and from the lamp socket, of course, to the shell terminal I4 of the lamp.

While the various parts of the invention hereinbefore described are illustrated generally as formed of pressed metal, it will be obvious that they may be similarly formed as castings or otherwise.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the composition, configuration and disposition of the component elements going to make upE the invention as a whole, as well as in the selection and/or combination of individual features to accomplish the ends sought, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description, or illustrations in the accompanying drawing, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a tubular casing formed with a threaded open end and an outwardly pressed bead inwardly of the threads and defining an inwardly facing annular groove rectangular in cross-section, a transversely extending lamp socket sup-porting at striplike bridge member whereof the extremities extend upwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and terminate, respectively, in rectangularoutwardly offset portions for reception `in the annular groove, said upwardly and outwardly extending portions and said offset portions being transversely curved, the lateral edges of the plane portion of the bridge member beingformed with upwardly extending flanges, said bridge member being formed centrally thereof with a depressed apertured portion, a lamp socket, means to secure the lamp socket to the bridge member, means toinsulate the lampI socket from the bridge member and circuit closing means insulated from the bridge member and electrically connected with the lamp socket.

2. A fiashlightcomprising, in combination, a tubular casing formed with a threaded open end and an outwardly pressed bead inwardly of the threads and defining an inwardly facing annular groove, a transversely extending lamp socket supporting flat strip-like bridge member whereof the extremities extend upwardly and outwardly and then upwardly and terminate, respectively, in offset portions for reception in the annular groove, said upwardly and outwardly extending portions and said offset portions being transversely curved, a lamp socket, means to secure the lamp socket to the bridge member, means to insulate the lamp socket from the bridge member and circuit closing means insulated vfrom the bridge member and electrically connected with the lamp socket.

3. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a tubular casing formed with a threaded open end and an outwardly pressed bead inwardly of the threads and defining an inwardly facing annular groove, a transversely extending lamp socket supporting net strip-like bridge member whereof the extremities extend upwardly and terminate, respectively, in offset portions for reception in the annular groove, said upwardly extending portions and said offset portions being transversely curved, a lamp socket, means to secure the lamp socket to the bridge member, means to insulate the lamp socket from the bridge mem-I ber and circuit closing means insulated from the bridge member and electrically connected with the lamp socket.

4. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a tubular casing formed with a threaded open end and an outwardly pressed bead inwardly of the threads and defining an inwardly facing groove, a transversely extending lamp socket supporting fiat strip-like bridge member whereof the extremities extend upwardly and terminate, respectively, in offset portions for reception in the groove, a lamp socket, means to secure the lamp socket to the bridge member and means tov insulate the lamp socket from the bridge member.

ORVILLE T. WOOD. 

